Craig McCulloch

National has unveiled its alternative to a bed tax, while Labour's promising an overhaul of the emissions trading scheme.

Joining us now is our Deputy Political Editor Craig McCulloch.

Tēnā koe, Craig.

Hello to...

There is a lesson for that, though, a lesson here in all of this for National, which is that if it is prepared to play fast and loose with the truth, others are more than happy to do so too.

The election is certainly heating up.

Thank you very much, Deputy Political Editor here at RNZ, Craig McCulloch.

Now, let's talk about the NRL, because tickets for the Warriors NRL playoff match this weekend have just gone on sale to the general public.

Labour's leader, Chris Hipkins, made the commitment this afternoon, which the government has labelled irresponsible.

Well, joining us now is our deputy political editor, Craig McCulloch.

Craig, what more detail can you give us on this?

Hello, Lisa.

That is not an equation that easily adds up, but it is a very enticing one to politicians, especially in an election year.

Thank you, Craig.

That is our Deputy Political Editor, Craig McCulloch.

The National Party's decision to stick with Christopher Luxon appears at odds with the public, as a poll suggests more voters think the caucus got it wrong than right.

Here's our Deputy Political Editor, Craig McCulloch.

The latest RNZ Reid Research poll gauged voters' views on National's emergency caucus meeting, where most MPs opted to keep Mr. Luxon as leader.

Asked whether that was the right call, about forty-five percent of respondents said no, compared with thirty-seven percent who said yes.

In New Zealand, the National Party's decision to stick with Christopher Luxon appears at odds with the public, as a poll suggests more voters think the caucus got it wrong than right.

Here's our deputy political editor, Craig McCulloch.

The latest RNZ Reid Research poll gauged voters' views on National's emergency caucus meeting, where most MPs opted to keep Mr. Luxon as leader.

Asked whether that was the right call, about forty-five percent of respondents said no, compared with thirty-seven percent who said yes.

Parliament has been a muddle of messages today with both the coalition and opposition scrambling to clean up their confused communications.

Joining us now is our deputy political editor, Craig McCulloch, who is a good, clear communicator.

Hi, Craig.

Hello, Lisa.

It seems there is a bit of blame to go around on this one, both between the ministry and the ministers, but certainly a lesson in the perils of doing things through urgency.

Thank you, Craig.

That is our Deputy Political Editor, Craig McCulloch.

And

RNZ's Craig McCulloch was saying it wasn't sausage roll in the Prime Minister's veins, but steel.

You have to say if he does survive this, it's quite impressive.

He is still in his veins, self-belief beyond belief.

It's one thing to confound one coup attempt, but to do it again several months later, that's impressive in itself.

And when the Prime Minister finally re-emerged on Wednesday lunchtime to reassert himself as Prime Minister still and leader, the media conference was all over in less than a minute and a half.

RNZ's Craig McCulloch called it a repeat run of April's no-go coup, but this time with no blaming the media for making a soap opera out of it.

He really challenged reporters and media in April to focus on what matters, to stop focusing on the sideshow, on the circus.

Kia ora.

Craig McCulloch here.

Welcome to Focus on Politics.

The sense of deja vu was palpable at Parliament this week as National MPs flew into the capital for come-again crisis talks, a rerun of the leadership vote held just four months ago.